Multiple-unit tank car



June 12, 1923. 1,458,588

M. MAURAN MULTIPLE UNIT TANK CAR Filed Feb. '7, 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet l aoouwaooo 1 mki -eliwfi t INVENTOR MAX MAURAN BY w MM /8-HA ATTORNEYS June 112, 1923.

M. MAURAN MULTIPLE UNIT TANK CAR 3 Sheets-Sheet '2 Filed Feb. '7, 1922 INVENTOR MA X MAU RAN low-HI ATTORNEYS June E2, 3923.

M. MAURAN MULTIiLE UNIT ,TANK CAR Filed Feb. '7 1922 I 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 o o o INVENTOR MAX MAURAN BY PM aom M M ATTORNEYS Fill stantielly uniform cross section and niey have heads even with the ends of the tents or bulgedoutwordly, or heads which ere sunken and arranged to provide e well-delined rim or chime on eech end. The tenlm or drums may be mode oi" metal with the ends welded in and may be provided with blocks st the ends together with suitable closures permitting filling and discharging of the contents. The tanks will, off course, be constructed to withstand the excessive pressure to which they are subjected by the liquefied gases which hey ere designed to contain. Nevertheless, slthough constructed to withstend heevy pressures, their weight in proportion to the weight oi the liquelied gases which they contain is rodicsll less then in the case of the ordinary smel metal containers commonly used for the transportation of liquefied gases. The tanks may have on overell length, for example, of

about eighty inches, or somewhat less than the width of on ordinery freight car.

in transporting liquified gases under pressure, it is important to provide for the release of. the gases in case of lire or undue hosting of the tanks before pressure (due to the heat) becomes excessive. in order to provide for this release of the contents of the drums or tenlss, they are provided with satiety devices such i'usible plugs. which will melt at it relatively low temperature, for example, around 150 F. ln case of injury or overheating oi one of the tanks or drums, its contents will be released in e gradual and progressive manner while the other tenlts may retnin their oontents without injury.

The oer construction is e uslly adopted for the transportation of ull containers (filled with the liquefied gas} and empty containers, so that the car can be shipped with loed of full containers and returned "with s. load of empty containers, without delay other then that occasioned by the un loading or loading of the car. The car is moreover so construcmd us to permit reudy loading and unloading, while it is nevertheless designed and constructed to provide, es a. port of the c'nrstructure, supporting and brecing means as well as credles tor holding the tenlts with their ones horizontal and transverse of the cor. ln connection with each cradle end tank, means is provided for detechnblv securing the tank to the cradle so that the tank will be securely held in place, but so that it may nevertheless be' unfestened end removed when desired, and s new tank, either empty or tilled, inserted to t'elte its place. I

In constructing the cor, the cradles end supporting means therefor ere cerried directly by the cor frame so that the provision of the usual platform of o freight car is made unnecessary. However, the orineeees rnngernent of o. series of tanks tron: ersely of the car presents an im diment to the cosy and safe passe e o the brokemsn along the cor, especia ly when the car is in rapid motion. In order to overcome this diliiculty, the car is' provided with special passageways along the sides of the car, and also at the ends, so that the brokemen may easily end solely pass along by the ends of the tanks from one car to another without danger, even during rapid travel of the car in transit. The our construction as swhole, accordingly, enables 2. series of tanks of large capacity to be solely transported and held in piece, but detached and removed end replaced when desired, while also onebling the brakeinen to travel along the car, on gnngweys at the ends of the drums, with the construction and arrangement of the car as s whole nicely balanced and with a load distributed in a. substantially uniform nisnner transversely of the car.

The accompanying drawings illustrate the preferred construction of the multi-tenl; car of the invention, the construction being shown in it somewhat conventional and diagrammatic manner, but it is intended and will be understood that the invention is illustrated by and not limited to the specific construction so illustrated and described.

In the drawings,

Fig. l is s plan view of the approved car, part of the car being shown with the upper portion removed;

Fig. 2 is aside elevation with their parts in section;

Fig. 3 is e section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 4 is section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1, certain ports being removed;

Fig. 5 is on end view of one of the tanks held in piece on the car;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged side view of the clsrnpin device shown in Figs, l and 6, parts being in section;

Fig. 7 is 2. plan view of a modified construction showing an alternative form of clamping mechanism, parts of the car being omitted;

Fig. 8 is a partial side view of the same construction Fig. 9 is s sectioned detail of the locking mechanism of Figs. '7 end 8;

Fig. 10 is a view taken at right angles to that of Fig. 9;

Fig. lhis an end view of one of the containers and a part of the car body showing an alternetive form oi the invention; and Fig. 12 is o partial side view of the some. in the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 6 the frame or body of the car is made up of e central sill 1, constructed as e box girder, having arranged transversely, though at suitable intervals, cross girders 2, while at the ends of the car other girdtrucks Hill incense ore and rams membe 3' are provided or strength than the girders 2, the dvgnot shown) supporting the car at the crs 3. A. girder l is arranged at each end of the sill l and the ends of the girders 3 and l are connected by channel latss 5, while suitable braces ore arranged ctwcen the ends of the rider d and thesill l, the construction being such that a suiteble framework is provided at the ends oi the 7 cars for support and holding thc'car as a whole upon the trucks.

' As she more particularly in Fig, d, the tinnsverse girders 2 are strongly con structed and extend for only a short distance on each side of the central sill while lighter frame members 2* extend outwardly to the sidcoi the car and are braced by other members 2", also of lighter construction.

The -rders 3 and l are somewhat similar but extend out to the side of the cor.

'-'llhe short cross boa or girders carry, near their outer ends, longitudil channel plates 7 extending the full length of the car. Upon these channel plates 7 are a series of cradle members 8 suitably spaced apart and adapted to support the tanks or containers 9 in the armor illustra further strengthen the structure and hold the cradles against transverse movement,

braces 19 are arranged in the manner shown, and are connected respectively to the mntral sill l and to the cradlm 8cm. each side oi the car. lit will thus be seen that the edcctivc car structure supporting the cradles extends only a short distance from the central sill,

. that is, the distance indicated in Fig. l he- Kill oil

tween the cradles 8, while the cradles themselves are spaced apart and so constructed and arranged, with concave seating surfaces, to form seats for the c lindrical containers, in which the containers are held transvcrsel to the length of the car in properly space relation. 1

While the cradles themselves tend to hold the containers from rolling movement longitudinally of the car, and while the weight of the containers themselves tends to hold them from transverse movement on the era the containers to the cradles may take any preferred form. Certain forms of clamping means suitable for the purpose are illustrated-in the drawings, although, from the broader aspects of the invention, the specific construction of the clamping means can be varied, and clamng devices of the varying construction can Ev used, provided the tanks suitable form of clam in or drums are clamped securely in place on the cradles.

The clamping means illustrated in Figs. 42, 5 and d comprises rods ll pivotally supported et one end by brackets 12 secured to'the frame of the can. Two of these rods are provided for each container, one at each end. At their outer ends the rods are threaded and have mountedthercon hook members 13 carried b nut members M, As shown in Fig.6, sac ccssed at 15 and each book has'a flange 16 entering the recess to rotatably connect the nut to the hoolr sothat the hook will be raised and lowered as'the nut is screwed and unscrewed; Removal of the nut is prevented by a head l? on the rod. This form of clamping means is especially opted for use with containers having a'well defined rim or chime at their ends over which the hook 13 can be secured. To engage the hooks with the containers, the nut is turned outwardl until theliook will pass over the end of a rim or chime, then the nut ,is turned inwardly until the hook is brought into close engagement with the chime, thus securely clamping the container at both ends were securely held in place and prevented from such movement;

ln Figs. 7 to it) there is shown another mechanism comprising straps or ban s 1 curved to fit the containers 9*, the ends of which are turned upwordly, as indicated at 2% and, engag rewsses 23 on the under side of washer members 22, which, inturn, are held down by nuts 21 threaded on rods Nor-19* sccured to the cradles. The rods 19 extend upwardy between the containers while the rod 19 at the end of the car extends upwardly beyond the last vcontainer and has the strap pivotally secured thereto. It will be evident that by tightening the nuts 21 the pressure of the bands on the containers may be increased to the desired extent, thus clamping the drum securely to the cradles;

while by removing the nuts 21 and washers 232 the straps 18 can be removed, thus permitting the removal of the drums. In order still further to prevent or reduce the tend ency toward transverse movement of the drums on the cradles, the drums themselves may, for example, have circumferential projections or bands so spaced apart so that.

out is annularly re- Elli lld

incense they will fit Within the cradles and so that the transverse movement of the drums will, be prevented by the engagement of the projections or bands with the cradles. These ribs or bands will also engage the straps 18 which will further tend to prevent accidental transverse movement of the drums on the car,

In Figs. 11 and 12 another alternative construction is shown. The clamping mechanism at each end of each container comprises a pair of flexible members or chains 27, each connected at one end to a cradle member by means of eye bolts 28, and the two adjacent members or chains being arranged to engage each other by means of adjustable hoolr members 9;? engaging a link of the cooperating chain. When the chains are secured together in the manner illustrated in Figs. 11..and 12, the drums will be securely clamped down on their respective cradles. in order further to neutralize any tendency of the drums to move transversely on the car, abutments 31 may he provided, arranged to extend up at each end of the containers so that, if the containers tencl to move transversely on their cradles, they will engage the abutments 3]. and be prevented from further transverse movement. This arrangement, as

Well as the constructions above described,

their shape, when arranged on the car, thatit is dificult for the hralrernan to pass along the tops of the containers, particularly When the car is in rapid motion. in orrler to provide for the sate passage of the bralreman, the drums are made of a length'less than the Width of the car, and an outer structure or a gangway is proviclecl the ends of the drums or tanks so that the bralrernan may safely pass along; either sicle of the car, and

so that the containers themselves will always he accessible for inspection at ei ier en i. This outer passageway gen. is sup ported by the members 2 a d oi the car, by the cross Running boards 32 are M111 members, each rnernher hav' Warolly extending guarri rnernh in place by bolts as, each of i. L-shaped. plate 35 at its uppc which bolt passes. A supported at each side of t gangway, by means of u rierl hy the transverse gi similar rail 38 is arm l by these inner upsecured ranged at the ends of the car so that brakernan can readily pass from one car to another and along the length of the rnultitank car without dificulty, and with protection while so passing.

It will accordingly be seen that the multitanlr car oi. the present invention. is of relatively simple construction, with a frame- Work extending the length of the car and by Which the tanks are supported, and to which they are secured, so that the tanks or containers themselves may he considered a component and; integral part at the car when the car is loaded either with full or empty containers, the car and containers being so constructed, and. the containers being so held. on the car, that the containers become in fact an integral part of the car and partake of all of its movements during; transit. W hen the containers are removed, only the skeleton framework is left,

The construction of the multi-tanlr cars is nevertheless such that the car may readiiy he unloaded ancl loaded. by releasing the clamping devices ancl raising the s arate containers from their respective s lln loading the car, the tanlrs are placed: the cradles and; properly centerei and clamped in place by one or another ot clarnoing devices illustraterl, or lay other suits le clamping means, so that they are securely hotel in place in the manner ahove (lescrihedu Since-the cra&les'are a t of i o car framework and; structure, ancl since containers are securely held to the or rites, there can he no movement of the cor ainers "with respect to the car with to each other.

When the car has reacheo the clamping devices h oosen cl and the inc iv containe he rem-overt, for example, by means eve or trolley, and carrierl th storage or show house. E then he on the car s i A. e in h h ner ahove escrih es unnecessary the lioiciing of ldivirlual tanks have been e -l s a to he o; d Witt i e olace oi? he c n reicacierl with in a per i nlrs aving cepam 1,2 .1 r a ounce, ioi ins transit.

till) messes fifteen cradles would be provided, each adapted to'hold a tank weighing about one ton. The load thus carried is in the form of separate units, each individually supported and held, and each separated from engagement or possibility of impact with those adjacent to it.

lit will thus be seen that the invention provides a valuable and improved construction of tank cars for safely transporting liquefied gases in large containers and with safety, even though the containers are themselves subjected to a high internal pressure, and even though the liquid in the containers may be subjected to more or less violent agitation from the motion of the car during The? liquefied gases can thus be transported with a minimum of danger, even though the liquefied gases may be of a corrosive character; while the individual containers themselves are capable of ready inspection and testing. This inspection and testing is of particular importance where the gases transported are corrosive in character, such as chlorine or sulphur dioxide. @ne advantage of the construction. shown and described, is that it facilitates testing of the containers, in that they can be removed from the car to a testing door.

The multi-tank car of the present invention is adapted for the transportation of non-corrosive products, such as casing-head gasolene, where it is important to prevent escape of highly volatile dissolved gases, and where the containers are required to withstand the pressure which such gases may exert. The safety plugs, one or more of which is provided for each container, are indicated at 40 in the drawing and may be of any suitable construction, for example, of a low melting point alloy melting at about 150 IR, so that when the containers are exposed to excess heat, the plugs will fuse, permitting the contents of the containers to flow out in relatively small streams which will give warning of the escape of the gas and prevent explosion of the container due to excessive pressure resulting from overheatin Whi e l have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of the invention, yet it do not limit myself to the specific construction of the embodiments illustrated, inasrnuch as variations and modifications can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as set forth in the accompanying claims.

it claim:

1. A car of the class described, comprising a frame having a plurality of seats extending transversely thereof, a cylindrical container in each seat, and means for clamping the containers to the seats.

2. A car of the class described, compriscylindrical drums in the seats, and means for clamping the drums in the seats against movement in any direction.

3. A car of the class described, comprising a body composed of a central longitudinal sill and transverse girders, plates secured to the girders on each side of the sill and extending longitudinally of the body, each plate carrying spacing blocks, the blocks of the plates registering and forming between said blocks seats, substantially cylindrical containers in the seats, and means engaging the containers for holding them in the seats.

4. A car or the class describe-d, comprising a body composed of a central longitudinal sill and transverse girders, a cradle supported by the girders, and provided with seats extending transversely of the car body, drums in the seats, means for clamping the drums against movement in any direction, running boards supported at the ends of the girders, and a hand rail outside of each running board.

5. A car of the class described, comprising, a body composed of a central silland transverse girders, plates secured to the girders at each side of the center or the car and carrying spacing blocks, said blocks forming between them seats, cylindrical containers in the seats, and means for holding the containers in place on the seats, the girders being extended beyond the ends of the containers, and carrying running boards, and hand rails outside the running boards.

6. A car of the class described, comprising a body composed of a central sill and transverse girders, plates secured to the girders at each side of the center of the car and carrying concave seats, cylindrical containers in the seats, and means for holding the containers in place on the seats, the girders at the ends of the cars having their ends connected and being braced against each other.

7. A car of the class described, comprising a frame having a plurality of seats extending transversely thereof, and a cylindrical container in each seat, and means for holding the containers to the seats, said holding means comprising hooks for engaging the ends of the containers, rods pivoted to the frame on which the hooks are slidably mounted, and a nut threaded onto each rod and having a rotatable connection with the adjacent hook, whereby to constrain the hook to travel with the nut.

8. A car of the class described, comprising an open frame, seats supported by the frame in spaced relation transversely of the re p till

ice

are

its

car, and cylindrical containers clamped to the seats with their axes transverse to the length of the car.-

9. A car of the class described, comprising an open frame, seats supported by the frame in spaced relation and cylindrical containers clamped to the seats.

10. A car of the cla$ described, comprising a frame having a plurality of seats extending transversely thereof, adapted to hold cylindrical containers and means for clamping the containers to the seats.

11. A car of the class described, comprising a body composed of a. central longitudinally extending sill and transverse girders and supporting concave seats ex tending transversely of the car body, said seats being adapted to hold cylindrical drums and means for clamping drums in the seats against movement in any direction.

12. A car of the class described, comprising a body composed of a central longitudinal sill and transverse girders, plates secured to the girders on each side of the sill and extending longitudinally of the body, each plate carrying spacing blocks, the blocks of the plates registering and forming between said blocks seats, said 1,4se,aea

-means for clamping drums against movement in any direction, running boards supported at the ends of the girders and a hand rail outside of each running board.

14. A car of the class described, comprising a frame having a plurality of seats extending transversely thereof, said seats being adapted to hold cylindrical containers and means for holding containers to the seats, said holding means comprising hooks for engaging the end of the containers, rods pivoted to the frame on which the hooks are separately mounted and a nut threaded on to each rod and having a rotatable connection with the adjacent hook whereby to constrain the hook to travel with the nut.

In testimony whereof I aifix my signature.

MAX MAURAN. 

